Karnataka’s Alipur draws attention for decades-old Iran ties amid West Asia tensions
Chikkaballapur: As tensions escalate in West Asia, the small town of Alipur in Gauribidanur taluk has drawn attention due to its decades-long religious and cultural ties with Iran, Prajavani reported.
Though geographically far from the conflict zone, residents of Alipur, a town panchayat with a population of around 25,000 Shia Muslims, closely follow developments in Iran. The town is regarded as one of the largest Shia Muslim settlements in South India, and many families here maintain deep spiritual and educational connections with the Islamic Republic.
Over the years, Shia Muslims from Alipur have travelled to Iran for religious studies, pilgrimage, and higher education. The influence of Iranian religious leadership is visible in the town’s institutions as well. A hospital in the village is named after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s spiritual lineage, and a large portrait of Ayatollah Imam Khamenei adorns the building.
Alipur has also been visited by several prominent personalities from India and abroad. Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, and senior Congress leaders have attended events in the town. In 2018, former Thai Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sonthi Bunyaratglin took part in a Unity Day celebration at the village’s Nobel School. WWE wrestler ‘The Great Khali’ visited the town in 2021 for a private event, drawing large crowds.
Many residents have business and trade links with countries in West Asia, including Iran and Gulf nations. Some families are involved in the gemstone trade and overseas commerce. According to officials, more than 120 people from Alipur are currently residing in Iran.
In view of the prevailing war situation in the Middle East, the Chikkaballapur district administration has set up a helpline to assist residents stranded abroad. District Collector Prabhu has urged families to provide details such as the name, age, passport number, contact information, and current location of relatives overseas. Information can be shared through the District Disaster Management Centre helpline number 08156-277002 or via WhatsApp at 9591178093 and 9845531026.
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Gold worth Rs 4.35 cr seized at IGI Airport in two smuggling cases; three arrested
New Delhi (PTI): Customs officers at the Indira Gandhi International Airport have busted two separate gold smuggling attempts, seizing a total of over 3.17 kilograms of gold worth about Rs 4.35 crore and arresting three foreign nationals, officials said on Monday.
In the first instance, Customs registered a case of smuggling on February 26 against a 39-year-old Chadian woman who arrived from Addis Ababa a day before, an official statement said.
Acting on specific profiling and surveillance, officers intercepted the passenger for a detailed examination.
During the search, gold articles of high purity weighing 1,843 grams were recovered from her baggage. The seized gold was assessed at a tariff value of Rs 2.37 crore, officials said.
The passenger admitted that the gold had been smuggled into India without payment of duty, officials said, adding that the recovery was made after she confessed the concealment was done "to evade Customs detection and payment of applicable duty".
The gold was seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, and the woman was placed under arrest under Section 104 of the Act for her alleged role in smuggling.
In a separate incident, Airport Customs Preventive officers booked two Myanmar nationals in a gold smuggling case on February 23. The duo had arrived from Yangon, another statement said.
The passengers were intercepted while crossing the green channel at the international arrival hall of Terminal-3.
On thorough personal search and baggage examination, the two men admitted that they had concealed gold bars inside their rectum.
"Further, four gold bars were ejected by each of the passengers," the Customs statement said, adding that eight rectangular gold bars were recovered.
The total net weight of the recovered gold was 1,329 grams, which was appraised at a tariff value of Rs 1.98 crore.
Both passengers were arrested under Section 104 of the Customs Act, 1962 for their involvement in the offence of smuggling, officials added.
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